Warning in Tel Aviv: Turkey Fills Iran's Void in the Region

As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East enter a new phase, Turkish and Israeli media report a state of alert in Tel Aviv regarding Ankara's growing influence. According to reports published on July 7, 2026, Israeli analysts believe that Turkey has effectively filled the void of Iranian influence in regional equations [1].

Ankara; Israel's New Strategic Challenge Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, a Turkey expert at the Moshe Dayan Center, emphasized in an analysis published in the newspaper Maariv that Tel Aviv must shift its gaze from Tehran toward Ankara. He believes that the decline of the Shia axis influence has created a power vacuum now filled by Turkey and its allies. Yanarocak warned that although Turkey is not a classic enemy like Iran, it is currently considered the "biggest strategic challenge" to Israel's national security [1][3].

Netanyahu's Opposition to Equipping Turkey with F-35s Coinciding with the NATO summit in Ankara, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with Fox & Friends, strongly warned against the possibility of Turkey's return to the F-35 fighter jet program. Pointing to Erdogan's support for Hamas and his harsh positions against Israel, Netanyahu emphasized that equipping Turkey with these advanced weapons jeopardizes Israel's aerial superiority in the region and shifts the balance of power in favor of the "Sunni axis" [2][4].

Emergence of a New Axis and Trade Corridors Reports indicate that the recent war and the closure of traditional energy routes have strengthened Turkey's position as a vital hub. Initiatives such as the "Middle Corridor" and the "Four Seas Initiative" have placed Ankara at the center of energy and goods transit between Asia and Europe. This economic power, alongside political influence in Syria and Libya, has led Israeli officials to express concern over the emergence of a "Sunni axis" consisting of Turkey, Qatar, and Pakistan [3][4].

Israel's Plan for Information Warfare against Turkey In response to this situation, Israeli experts have proposed that Tel Aviv launch an extensive "information warfare and lobbying" campaign against Ankara. This plan includes creating Turkish-language media accounts to influence Turkish public opinion, as well as intensifying lobbying activities in Washington to limit Erdogan's diplomatic maneuvers. The goal of these actions is cited as preventing Turkey's consolidation as the undisputed regional power in the post-Iran crisis era [1][3].